Witch Hunter Rhapsody

After being interrupted, Ether lost interest in continuing. She had been intimate with Vitas since morning and was starting to feel tired.

Vitas expressed his understanding and then suggested that Ether take a bath at his home, where the water would be ready soon.

Ether laughed and joked, "I think water boils at about the same speed everywhere. Whether I wash at my own home or here, the time it takes is probably about the same."

Vitas laughed, then opened his arms and said, "Okay, I just want you to stay here a little longer. After all, I told that guy to wait another two hours, and I don't want to wait even a second less."

Ether blinked, leaned against Vitas, and said with a mischievous grin.

"You usually act so nonchalant, how come you can't be honest about something like this?"

Love always makes people shy.

"It's starting again."

Ether and Vitas went over to prepare to boil water when suddenly she asked...

"Are you and that wizard really friends?"

Vitas paused for a moment, then realized that Etherra was asking about Maximus, and answered.

"To be honest, it doesn't count, but we still need some kind of official status, so it's better if we just call each other friends."

Etherra seemed lost in thought.

"What kind of people are wizards?"

Vitas thought about it carefully, and then answered.

"They have all sorts of people, but they're all a bunch of evil guys."

"Hey, why? Don't wizards have a lot of knowledge? I've heard that knowledgeable people, if they have a kind heart, can do good deeds for others."

"If wizards could have kindness, they wouldn't be wizards. The purer a wizard is, the less likely they are to be a good person. Ether, can you imagine someone who does nothing all day but makes intellectual research their sole purpose?"

"Is there anything wrong with this?"

Vitas shook his head.

"The essence of a wizard is the thirst for knowledge. A true wizard can sacrifice everything for knowledge—love, life, dignity—nothing is off-limits. If it's outside the scope of their curiosity, that's fine; but if it is, then they're doomed. However, as the scope of a wizard's research gradually expands, the whole world will appear in their curiosity."

Vitas's long-winded speeches were something Aesera was used to. However, Vitas would also pay attention to his own expression. If he found that he was not interested, he would smile and then change the subject.

But this time was different. Vitas glanced at Ether, then continued to share his views on wizards.

Wizards are evil; wizards are heartless.

Gradually, Vitas's tone became somewhat sorrowful.

"No, you don't know, Etherra, I've seen many wizards who are selfish, fighting among themselves, and eager to inherit their friends' estates after their deaths, even to the point of losing their minds. It's really strange."

Ether didn't interrupt Vitas; she could sense the anger and sadness in his voice.

Vitas had once, intentionally or unintentionally, told Ether about some things from the past.

Etherra could vaguely guess that Vitas's former companions had died because of the wizard.

Given this, it's perfectly normal for Vitas to be hostile towards wizards.

So what attitude should I take towards the wizard?

Ether didn't care.

She didn't know any wizards. If Vitas hated the wizard Red, then she could just hate wizards too.

"Oh, the water's boiled, go wash up."

"No peeking."

"I didn't... okay, okay, I won't peek anymore."

Vitas sat back down on the bench, pondering what Maximus might be up to.

The undead invasion has come to an end, but the ensuing accountability from nobles and high-ranking wizards is another big problem.

damn it.

It's impossible for him to actually confess that he was the murderer of Viya.

More importantly, although the monster Viya is dead, it seems that Viya's secrets have not been fully revealed yet.

Alistair might have known something, but he's dead.

Vitas gradually lost track of time as he pondered these thoughts.

When he came to his senses again, Ether had already changed her clothes and found a small stool to sit next to him.

The annoying pattering sound came from the window again; the crow had probably been waiting patiently for two hours, and now it was time to leave.

Vitas was helpless, while Etherra held his hand.

"I know you don't want to deal with these troublesome things, but there's no other way, you have to do it, right?"

"I know, I won't be that stupid, I know what I should do."

Vitas saw Aethera out the door, then leisurely opened the window to let the unlucky raven in.

"I hope I haven't let my personal happiness interfere with your important matters."

"Indeed not, but the happiness of mortals is a waste of my time. Whatever a wizard does is more precious than the happiness of mortals."

"Stop talking nonsense, Maximus. I've figured it out. You're nothing but a loser. I don't have any right to mock you here, but you'd better put away that arrogant attitude now."

Maximus was speechless; he didn't like Vitas's way of speaking.

"I need you."

"I can probably guess that you'll only appear in front of me when you need me. Forget the nonsense, just tell me what you want me to do."

"I need your help to collect some magical materials."

"Are you that free right now? You actually have the time to collect materials and do experiments? Can you tell me what kind of experiment it is?"

"You wouldn't understand the wizarding stuff even if I told you, but it will be very helpful in covering up Alistair's death."

"Helpful? I've heard from my side, Draco, that your teacher is coming to investigate personally. Now the Viscount wants me to find out what's going on. I'd like to know what kind of magic you have that can help me."

To be honest, Vitas is the one who knows all this best, Maximus thought to himself.

He surmised that, given Vitas's personality, he would definitely oppose Alistair's resurrection once he learned of the possibility.

"I know a spell that can distract my teacher; he'll definitely be interested in that."

"A magic circle that would make your teacher abandon their own reading and risk their life to pay attention to it. Sometimes I don't know if you wizards are too arrogant, or if wizards are really that heartless."

Vitas said it, but he already believed it in his heart.

After all, wizards are the kind of beings who would sell their souls for a spell they've never even seen before.

"Tell me what you need, and I'll assess the difficulty."

"Nether Salamander bile and Frost Dragon scales."

Vitas looked at him with a look of utter disbelief.

"Are you an idiot? If you could get your hands on these two things, you wouldn't need to use magic to distract your teacher; these two things would be enough to keep him occupied!"

"I know this is difficult, but..."

Vitas interrupted him.

"Wait, you're not preparing some rather dangerous spell to cast, so you've come to me for these materials, are you?"

"No, that's not the case. If this spell succeeds, we will be safe and sound."

"It doesn't seem very credible. I'll keep an eye on these two things for you. How much are you prepared to pay?"

"Once you get it, I will naturally offer the appropriate price."

After the discussion ended, Vitas watched the raven fly away.

These two things are hard to find. Can Maximus afford them?

Fortunately, all he needed were parts of two organisms, not living individuals.

Regarding metamaterials alone, there should still be channels available.

Vitas was certainly not foolish enough to hunt those two creatures himself; what he needed to do now was ask the merchants if he could buy them.

As for who to ask, the answer is obvious.

Declan, a merchant with good relations with wizards.

Vitas occasionally wanted to experience the feeling of making money by reselling items.